APPLE GRADING AND PACKING 179 



give paying crops tlie tliird year after planting and may Ije left with 

 profit for five or six years longer or until the apple trees begin to 

 bear. A Washington county apple orchard inter planted with small 

 fruits showed an annual net profit aboe the average rental per acre 

 after every expense connected with the orchard and small fruits was 

 accounted for until the apple trees bore payin crops. 



In organizinfi the Eastern Nebraska Fruit Grower's Association, 

 the members, each one a grower of this sectioa, were a-r.'ing to 

 develop horticulture to a high state by cooperation, realizing that a 

 unity of action would accomplish much more than in(ll^■id^lal efforts. 

 They could see that more and better fruit grown in this territory 

 resulting from standard methods in care, culture, and pa-;king would 

 give the product a standing on the markets and wo'ild attract atten- 

 tion of both buyers of fruit and those desirous of engaging in fruit 

 growing and which would add impetus to the growt^i of the industry 

 and help each individual. While the organization was handicapped the 

 past season by the unfavorable weather conditions, its members count 

 it a success. Growers east of the river in Iowa and Misso'iri hnve 1 een 

 very much interested in the organization. A thirty acre orchard 

 at Tarkio, Mo., is now affiliated with the Association and f;everal 

 prominent Iowa growers have indicated that th.jy will be with the 

 Association next season. With a healthy growth o^ the Association 

 and the right cooperative spirit among the members, the organization 

 will be a strong factor in making the Missouri river hills the most 

 profitable land in these states. 



APPLE GRADING AND PACKING. 

 J. R, Cooper 



Rej)utatioii to Be 3Iade. 



In attempting to better the grading of apples in Nebraska every- 

 thing is to be gained and nothing lost. As yet there is no set standard, 

 and few are the growers who put up a first class grade of apples. The 

 idea of letting a few wormy apples go into the package is wrong. One 

 wormy apple might not be of any great sin in a barrel of sound fruit. 

 The one wormy apple, however, will often get in without the knowledge 

 of the packer. This is permissible but when a certain percentage of 

 wormy fruit is placed in the package knowingly, intentionally and 

 with "malice aforethought" it is time to register complaint. This 

 also applies to misshapen, bruised and fungous injured fruit. This 

 practice, however, of allowing a percentage, more or less large, of 

 poor grade fruits to go in with the No. 1. is extensively permitted. 

 Why would it not be just as easy to draw a strict line between 

 good and poor stock and adhere to it, as to darw the line 10 per 

 cent on the "shady" side and attempt to follow it? Wliy 

 not put up a good grade aond demand a good price? All 

 of th- fruit eating public can be fooled part of the time and a part 



